“Sahaja Knowledge” Activity we tried in northern New Jersey
How we have done it twice in northern New Jersey in 2024:
This can be a group activity conducted about once every two or three months. Instead of a “brain trust” of “experts”, each yogi is involved in the quest for a deeper appreciation and understanding of Sahaja Yoga.
Listen to a talk of Shri Mataji and, inspired by the talk, we talk in small groups about our experiences and understandings of Sahaja Yoga.
We followed these steps:
A talk or excerpt of a talk is selected. The audio or video is sent to the collective via our regional WhatsApp group, along with a transcript of the talk.
During the meeting, maybe after a group meditation, the talk is played. Then:
Yogis count off 1,2,3... to each get a number. The goal is to form groups of about four yogis, and to have yogis sit together who normally don’t sit together.
“All 1s here, all 2s here, all 3s here..”. etc. The different groups sit in different parts of the room.
An activity sheet is handed out to each yogi (or one per group).
The “answers” are not in the talk; the talk is to get the attention at Sahasrara, so that in the group activity yogis are inspired. The questions on the activity sheet are intended to have yogis introspect and look inside for what they have experienced or what they have understood about some aspect of Shri Mataji’s teachings.
As many yogis who want to can answer each question, so in a group of four there can be four answers to the first question, four for the second, and so on. If they want to, yogis can ask each other to elaborate or explain.
The hosting yogi team or person monitors the room, maybe joins a team for a while, and checks the atmosphere to tell when the energy level is going down. About 45 to 60 minutes seem to be enough time. Not every question needs to be talked about in every group.
Then everyone gets together and can have a concluding group activity (meditation etc) or, yogis who learned or understood something in a new way can say to the whole group what they discovered.
Copies of the transcript of the talk can be available, printed out, for whoever would like one. Sometimes only one or two yogis want a printed copy.
For yogis who could not attend, the activity sheet can be shared, with the link to the talk and the transcript of the talk, to the local WhatsApp group.
1. Activity 2024_01 Reflections on The Real Becoming
Talk (audio only): 1980.05.18 The Real Becoming, Old Arlesford, UK - original on amruta:
Link to talk, a 21 minute excerpt (mp3 in a Google drive):
Link to transcript of talk excerpt:
PDF of activity sheet (can cut page in half - 2 copies of activity on one page):
2. Activity 2024_02 Absorbing and Changing
Talk (audio only): 1980.01.27 Transformation, Morning talk in Bordi, India - original on amruta:
Link to talk, 13 minutes (audio only YouTube video; sound quality in first three minutes is very poor, could play after first 3 minutes):
Link to transcript of talk (a gap in the transcript shows where the sound improves):
PDF of activity sheet (can cut page in half - 2 copies of activity on one page):
Have an activity you tried with the yogis in your collective that you want to share with other centers? sahajamaterials@gmail.com